Food
Food in Luoyang is anything but unsatisfactory thanks to its past history of
serving as the capital of a number of dynasties. The most popular dish in Luoyang
today is the Carp, which is not only delicious in taste but also is appealing
in appearance. The cheaper choices are Zhangji Roast Chicken and the Sour and
Spicy Soup. For those with a bit of time on their hands, and traveling in group,
the Water Banquet is not to be missed. Another interesting side to Luoyang dining
is due to the explosive mix of of "integrated" Han and Muslim (Xinjiang)
people here, much of the food here has that Muslim tinge. Kebabs and Muslim
noodles can be found in almost every small restaurant bearing the Muslim scrawl.Like
most cities in China, the railway station in Luoyang is the place to stuff your
stomach with cheap food. Of the many places around town, the restaurants on
the left side of the Tianxiang Hotel (Tianxiang binguan), just down the road
from the railway station, serve some of the best dishes with both an English
menu and cheap prices. There is also a good restaurant at 4 Anhui Lu, Ya Xiang
Lou, that has some good chicken with fruit, stir fried beancurd and fried rice,
all for under RMB20. The nicest of the Luoyang restaurants is also near here,
HM on Zhongzhou Zhonglu, oozes exotic charm and has some tasty dishes, for which
you will have to pay more, for the cost of an ordinary one person meal here
you can expect to spend around RMB50.
Shopping
Although not the capital, there are many specialties that can be found
in Luoyang. The most famous would have to be the peonies that are found all
over the place, flowers that are also the symbol of the city. For those after
handicrafts the copied Tang Dynasty three-colour glazed pottery, that can be
found in many places in Luoyang and has a history of as long as 1,000 years,
is not to be missed. For tea connoisseurs, a taste of the pure and crisp Xinyang
tea should not be missed, made from leaves of some of China's most unsullied
land.Guangzhou Market, located in the busiest section of the city, is one of
the largest department stores in the province. It is a good place to get virtually
anything, if you are planning to go further to the more deserted west. The Arts
and Craft Store on Zhongzhou Lu sells imitation palace lanterns and replicas
of Shang bronzes. Upstairs, you can also purchase some good afore-mentioned
glazed pottery horses and camels. Another similar venue is the Antique Store
in the Old Town God's Temple
Luoyang is not the most exciting of places for those after a bit of light relief, but this is not such a problem since most travelers here are only coming for the sights and historical ambience. Nightlife is limited and, apart from spending your time drinking in pleasant restaurants about town, most of the clubs and pubs are situated in the hotels. Some of the outdoor restaurants near to the railway station, on Jinguyuan Lu, serve a nice, and cheap, draught beer.The Chinese do somehow manage to enjoy themselves here though, satisfied by their versions of ultra-modern entertainment (some of which are blasphemously housed in a few of the ancient constructions). The Eight Immortals Palace on Luolong Lu is another replica of Disneyland (making use of the famous Chinese mythology featuring eight immortals), which applies modern laser and sound facilities to make entrants feel as if they were contemporaries of the immortals. The Laser shooting city on Shachang Xilu is another interesting place, a simulated battle field, like the real thing excepting that your enemy are either strangers or friends and that you use a laser rifle in place of a real one.